How to test app update on Google Play?
You don't need the Play Store
for testing database upgrade.
You can just use an emulator. Drag&Drop version 1.0 (this will install the app), open the app, and Drag&Drop version 1.1.
There isn't any real "upgrade" feature. It's just an install of the new version.
By the way, you can add the news columns in onUpgrade of SQLiteOpenHelper
.
As I understand the main question was not related to database but for general possibility "How to check that update from version 1 to version 2 will gone fine for end user?"
I found the way to do it with Internal app sharing. This is a place where you can put your APK versions, setup emails for test users who can access your APKs.
Go to
Google Play Console > Development Tools > Internal app sharing > Upload link
You can Drag & Drop needed APKs and then provide the Link for test users to download specific APK.
It works for me exactly how I expected.
Now I can check on the Android device that next updates will be successful for my users.
0.0.9 to 0.0.11
0.0.10 to 0.0.11